Opinion: Ripples From Brett Favre’s Retirement
So with the news that Favre is retiring … what now?
Here’s a quick look at what the ripples are for the Jets now that Favre has announced his re-retirement.
Team’s Cap Status — Conflicting reports are rampant today, Hutch notes that the Jets were already under the cap before Favre decided to retire. I don’t think they were there, but they were close. Favre’s retirement frees up even more space for the team, and puts to bed issues with Brandon Moore. If the team wants to be players in free agency, they would be wise to convert some more of the upcoming roster bonuses before free agency begins, but then they are committing more of that money long term, so they need to be judicious to whom they convert those roster bonuses.
Even so, the team still needs more space to pay their rookies (around $4 million), needs more to replace or re-sign the likes of Eric Barton Abram Elam and Mike Nugent, and to potentially extend Leon Washington.
Another player with a rather large bullseye on his back in the coming weeks will be Chris Baker who the team must make a yes/no decision on before March 1st, where he’ll be guaranteed $9 million. I wouldn’t expect Baker to be back at that money for the contribution he makes to this team. Especially considering that TE Dustin Keller will take more and more touches away from him.
A Rise From the Dead? — The problem with Favre’s retirement is that players can always … unretire. Favre himself has done it, and it put the Packers in a jam last summer. According to ESPN, Bus Cook (Favre’s agent) asked for a release, so it would be safe to assume that he could be interested in coming back, but playing in another location. There’s a lot of reasons that the Jets don’t want Favre to walk away freely, but if that happens, the team will need to drive a stake through Favre’s heart by cutting him or trading him outside of the NFC North.
Who’s the QB? — Is the offense rudderless with Favre now gone? It’s hard to say, but Kellen Clemens isn’t a name that strikes confidence in the hearts of millions.
Brian Schottenheimer made a lot of concessions to play Favre’s style of game … a no motion, spread offense. Schottenheimer will be able to get back most of his pages in his playbook, one which Kellen Clemens or Brett Ratliff will be fairly familiar with at this point. And if Ryan’s promise that the Jets are planning a more run heavy offense follows through, that might take some of the pressure off the QB, whoever he is.
Although some in the organization might have “soured” as Newsday’s Erik Boland put it on ESPN News today, he made the point that 2007 was not a fair sample of data because of the atrocious offensive line … but remember it was Clemens who led the team to three of the team’s four wins during the season. With a much better offensive line in place and a solid running game, can Clemens surprise? I think it all comes down to turnovers for KC.
Meanwhile, third stringer Brett Raliff wowed a lot of folks last summer in camp and in preseason games, granted against other second and third stringers.
So although there’s promise in the organization at QB, based on the aggressive moves to get Faneca, Favre, Pace and others last year, you’d be remiss if the team didn’t seriously consider their options via the draft of free agency.
Free Wheeling Free Agency — With a bunch of space now and the chance to make a lot more with some other moves, it will be interesting to see how the Jets approach free agency. If I was going to prioritize players that this team might look at during the offseason, I would imagine that the team would place a premium on inside linebackers, corners, safeties, depth at nose tackle and depth at defensive line.
Draft Implications — As things stand now, there’s maybe just three Quarterbacks who look to be first rounders. Matthew Stafford, Mark Sanchez and possibly Josh Freeman, who could be this year’s Joe Flacco darkhorse first rounder. The Jets will need to pay attention at the combine, but picking at 17, the draft will have to come to them, so hoping that draft pans out could be a big mistake.
Tack on a Draft Pick — The Jets will add another late draft pick, as part of their deal with the Packers stipulated that if Favre retired after one season, the Packers would forfeit a late pick.
54 Responses to Opinion: Ripples From Brett Favre’s Retirement
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DSmizzle says:
The team needed this to move forward for the future.
I’d have liked to see Brett take one more shot, as I think next year has a much higher chance of being completely irrelevant if he retires (which he did), but eventually they had to move forward.
They simply weren’t moving forward with Chad at QB. Every few years, they’d have the talent for Chad to lead them to the playoffs through maximizing his potential. It would fail. So Brett helped them in that regard.
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lajetfan says:
They should make Matt Cassell an offer with a poison pill for the patriot, give the patriots two first round picks per the franchise tag guidelines and be set.
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Bent says: Unfortunately, Kirk, no-one knows what the final cap will be (I think it will be about $130m based on recent reports), plus noone knows what the LBTE adjustment will be (I think it will be about plus 1.5m based on the fact that that’s what Jetscap is using) and finally I think Hutch’s figures (which he reckons he got from the union) may already include restructured bonuses – and probably do otherwise I can’t see how he is under the cap before taking Favre’s retirement into account.
Keep an eye on the site. I’ll keep updating. Based on my above assumptions (and not including any restructured bonuses, although they are coming and may well have already been done), the Jets are currently between 8m and 9m under.
Great post Bassett. I think the late rounder on Favre’s retirement is a 2010 pick.
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tjones28 says:
The Jets need a cornerback, they should try to trade the #17 overall pick to the Eagles for Lito Sheppard and pick #28.
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FootballFan78 says:
Its a sad day for the NFL and terrible day for the Jets. I dont really care about anyone else, but Im sure as hell gonna miss Brett Favre. He didnt do well down the stretch for whatever reason… But he was exciting to watch nonetheless and I would have liked to see another season with him before I judged him as a Jet. I truly think he is a modern day warrior and would take him on my team if I owned one.
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TimNC says:
lajetfan, I’m thinking if the Jets actually have eyes for Cassel, they’ll fly with KC and Ratliff this year and see if the Pats franchise him again next year. The price for Cassel right now with the franchise tag on him is just too high to make good sense for the Jets IMO.
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Kirk says:
Bent – I understand the figures aren’t clear for various reasons, but it seems odd that non-TJB writers can’t at least state their cap assumptions before throwing out numbers.
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I’d like to see the team stick with the QBs they have on the roster, unless someone great falls to them in the draft or in FA. Although SD99 will disagree, I think Clemens deserves another shot. He came in midseason on a terrible team and was the qb for 3 wins. Yes, he had a horrible qb rating but 8 games with that team isn’t long enough to pass fair judgment. Chad looked horrible that year, too, and look what a better team did for him. That being said, if Ratliff can beat clemens out for the job, all the better.
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Igs says:
Kirk
I think the point is that there is no real solid ground out there unless you work for the Jets, but I think both of the post included said basis for analysis.
The thing about picking at 17 is how do you not get an impact player. But the Jets have to find a balance and not grab the FAs that put them ina draft corner. I like Scott, and smeone threw out Dunta Robinson who I like. But I wouldn’t go to town with the money. Fill your needs through the draft and the rookie FAs from last season. If their not contibuting by now, why’d you sign them?
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bc says:
Reports state that Farve asked for his release. The Jets refused and then he retired. What were the implications if he were released instead? Were there cap issues? Or were there compensation issues with the Packers? If someone can clear this up I would appreciate it.
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Electric Ham says:
late pick is exciting any idea what round? 4th would be great but i doubt it would be that high
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BC,
I missed this one too. If he retires the Jets get a round 7. But folks are not sure if it’s this year or 2010.
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Otherwise, cutting Favre gets the Jets off (no pun intended) scott free (no pun intended) if Favre signs with the Vikings.
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I hope favre gets to the SB with the Vikings
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NickyLibs says:
Me too,and then Revis picks him for six with 30 seconds to go and we win the Superbowl.
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lgs,
Thanks,
retired Farve = 7th rd pick in 2009 or 2010
released Farve = no compensation -
ridinmywave says:
footballfan,
No one one here cares about your sentiments, go tell that on a vikes blog.
Tjones,
that was a good trade proposition I must say, get lito, shift lowery to fs, and a pick at 28 can be greatly utilized.
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zenlaw says:
Can someone explain to me why the Patriots can take a shot with a player like Cassell who never even started a college game, but the Jets can’t take a shot with Clemens or Ratliff for a season?
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biebs says:
I’m pretty sure the draft pick is in 2010, if for no other reason, than to confirm he doesn’t play in 2009.
Not a big deal either way, since it’s a 7th round pick. One thing that still confuses me, there was a report from Mike Lombardi that the Jets were $30+ million over the cap, that seemed to be VERY high, does anyone know where that number even came from? IF that’s the case, the Jets are still about $12 million over the cap.
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biebs … i think he was reporting the roster bonuses … they total about 34 million … lombardi hates the jets and lives to make them look foolish.
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john r says:
whats the deal with Graham Harrell, the texas tech qb.
i mean this kid is the real package and i think could step in right away. i dont get the deal with sanchez or the kid from georgia.
the jets have a great running back and line.also lajetfan, you want to give up two 1st rounders for a kid that never started in college and has 1 season under his belt.
cassel doesnt have a deep ball and i look at moss as the example that backs that up.i also think we can go with KC bc of the running game and line as well, but would need 1 more wr for that to happen
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Yea, about Cassel, remember that he started based on a Brady injury. And he didn’t get his team to the playoffs. And yes, he has a noodle arm.
I wouldn’t want a Graham Harrel unless he came with a Mike Crabtree or a Mike Crabtree-like guy.
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SackDance99 says:
NYC Parking Expert, I think KC had his chance and now it’s time to see if Ratliff can do better. KC, on top of a horrendous QB Rating, showed other disturbing tendencies. First, he was inaccurate. Second, he threw too many INTs. Third, he was indecisive. Fourth, he looked to run too often. He just didn’t show any promise and, in fact, got worse as the year progressed meaning that d-coordinators liked what they saw on film. Plus, he’s under 6-2 and may be injury-prone. Knowing all this, why not see what Ratliff can do?
NO CBs. Another CB would be a waste of cap space. Let’s use that cap room to add Bart Scott and Leonhard from the Ravens. Lowery is fine opposite Revis.
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Harrell=system QB=pro bust
Cassell=system QB=bust on any team without Moss, Welker and Kevin Faulk
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Sack
If there’s one knock on Lowery, it’s that he’s slow. And he has the 40 to prove it. think he’d be a good fit at FS, maybe an Ed Reed type guy because he has that nose for the ball and for reading plays. He got burned a lot in man coverage. Anybody know how the Jimmy Williams situation worked out in Atlanta?
I don’t think the jury’s quite out on Clemens yet. Though I don’t have much faith in him, I wouldn’t quite say that he got his shot. His is a round 2 guy. If the Jets aint gonna use em they should drop em.
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biebs,
After the release of Barrett (4 mil) and the retirement of Farve (13 mil) the Jets are approx. $10 million UNDER the cap. Minium cap is $123 million for 2009 but can increase and probably will.
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Joe B. says:
Matt Cassel and Lito Sheppard? Do you people even watch football?
This is a great day to be a Jet fan, so Favre trolls can bounce. Whoever we have under center, Clemens/Ratliff/Draft Pick/FA, I’m confident that we’ll have an adequate quarterback and a great running game. Now Schotty doesn’t have to mold his playbook around the QB, and most importantly, this is now REX’S TEAM and not Favre’s. Saddling Rex with an old media magnet larger-than-life but small on the field QB would’ve been a disaster. So thank you Favre for getting back to us.
Can’t wait for the Draft. Let’s go Jets.
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Oh. Jimmy Williams is out of football. Woopsy!
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FernandoQ says:
Signing Cassel would pro e to be one of the worst signing g in NFL History here’s why I agree with SD99 he is a system QB and that system consists of Moss & Welker!!! Bottom line I think he would be a bust here in NY just a opinion of course! Second giving your division rivals 2 first Rounders for what is essentially their backup QB and all the $$$$ and cap space would Again!!!! Prove to be the NFL’s worst signing!!!
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what tells you that sanchez or strafford are not going to be bust. Harrell has a great arm and ran a great offfense for texas tech. yes he had crabtree, but he did this for 4 years in one of the best conference and each year he got better
no one can tell the future, but he seems more like a pro QB than the next ryan leaf
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JustAGreenGuy says:
Sack- Not to argue over Clemens with you for a 2nd year, but Ratliff did well against guys who ended up in the CFL. I thought Clemens accuracy looked pretty good in the preseason. The fact that everyone drops his passes worry me the most. Don’t annoint one over the other until they have a competition. Ratliff looked best against the 3rd stringers of a team that went 4-12 and had a lousy defense. That far from impresses me.
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I think Cassel was a product of the system too. Scott Mitchell part deux.
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Pete57 says:
Sack, I have to say that I also would like to see Clemmens get another shot. i don’t agree with all of your assertions.
Inaccuracy- You know as well as everyone else, the receivers dropped alot of his passes. Especially McDrops.Indecisiveness- I watched evry game he played and I didn’t get that impression
He looks to run too much- This is my biggest disagreement. I felt he did a great job of AVOINDING pressure, and made some great plays with his feet. Never felt he gave up on plays right away to run. He did have to run for his life alot though.
If he was as bad as you feel he is, I don’t think he would’ve been in a QB competition with Chad last year. I think you would agree that the coaching staff felt/ feels he has ability.
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lgs, Lowery’s 40 speed might be slow, but he has good cover skills. If you watch when he was beaten, it was usually because of “rookie” mistakes like against Ginn in the Miami game. Ginn pushed off indicating that the ball was going over Lowery’s head. Instead, Lowery picked that time to look up at the ball and jump and he just missed knocking the ball away. If he had played the man, re-established contact and, then, looked for the ball, he would’ve picked it off. All of this happens in split seconds. He’ll learn because most times he was beaten, it was usually by pretty close margins. Justin Miller had lots of speed, but awful cover skills. So, speed isn’t the be all and end all. FWIW, Lowery had 15 passes defended…that’s a lot and he won’t be strafed as much if Ryan gets the blitz working. I think he showed lots of promise, why give up on him as a CB after his rookie season at one of the most difficult skill positions in pro sports?
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SouthJerseyJetFan says:
I actually like our young qb’s. Kellen I think was shellshocked and it was probably good he got injured, because if young qb’s have to withstand a horrible o-line…ie David Carr they never recover. I liked what I saw from Brett Ratliff but it was preseason so you never really know…If I’m going after a veteran QB I’m want to go semi-young that way we won’t be in this mess a year or 2 from now. I like Derek Anderson, that team didnt really imporve any with Brady Quinn so I dont think it was Dereks problem that team just self-destructed. Given a strong running game, he has all the potential in the world as he showed 2 years ago. The draft is light and the chances of finding a Matt Ryan or even a Joe Flacco are slim to none…Remember Flacco didnt really do anything he just managed the game…I would rather take a 2nd-3rd round flyer out on a guy with some experience like Derek Anderson then taking my chances on a guy in the draft this year when we could fill other spots.
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Pete57, Clemens was Mangini’s big QB pick…read between the lines. He didn’t beat out Chad and the Jets drafted Ainge, who is 4-5 inches taller. Even today, the Jets’ FO guys talked about upgrading the QB position…not a vote of confidence for KC. And, he was not just a little inaccurate, he completed just 52% of his passes…that’s awful. With the same crew, Chad completed nearly 69% of his passes…so, it wasn’t just drops. We disagree on the other points and, if you watched every game, then did you hear (was it Tasker?) who said that Clemens looked “skittish” in the pocket? He was awful at avoiding pressure, he just ran. That’s not what he’s supposed to do, he’s supposed to buy time and complete passes, like Big Ben. I’m so adamant about this because I watched KC very closely and I’m convinced he doesn’t have what it takes. Too short, too inaccurate, too indecisive, too skittish in the pocket. If he had a problem in just one of these areas, then I’d be more optimistic, but he has too many issues to overcome. It’s time to move on and give Ratliff a chance. More importantly, it sounds like the Jets’ FO is thinking the same thing.
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Sack, I think you’re downplaying Lowery’s liabilities. I think everyone agrees that he’s a great cover guy and he has a bright future. But he got burned a lot. And it got to the point where he had to get a lot of help over the top and from the nickel. Beyond rookie mistakes, which I’ll give any young player, at corner he’s not more than a cover 2 guy and I think he’d make a great FS, again because of his habit of always being around the ball and his ability to read plays.
Even veterans like Ty law that know how to compenasate for their lack of speed become a liability. When Lowery has to cover a speedster one on one, I think that guy will get down the feild on him a lot and score tochdowns.
Again, I’m not downgrading him. He could be a slow CB or a fast FS.
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For the final time in my existance I would like to say ANY NFL QB CAN HAVE A 70% COMPLETION PERCENTAGE IF THE MAJORITY OF THEIR PASSES GO LESS THAN 10 YARDS IN THE AIR!!!!! For his 69% completion rating we won 1 game and Chad blew 2 or 3 fourth qtr leads in 07. Screw comp percentage. The FO wants niether of them apparantly. Ratliff beat up on 3rd stringers and I don’t see why you guys say he has a big arm. He wasn’t throwing bullets. He went deep with major arc.
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I’m glad none of you guys are fully confident in this QB group. For second there I thought I was going crazy.
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QB competition. None of our current QBs deserve to get crowned.
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lgs, I’ll need to see Football Outsider’s numbers on Lowery. To my eye, he wasn’t “burned” a lot. Like I said, most of the errors I saw were rookie mistakes and I think he has great closing speed. Plus, he’s not going to draw the other team’s no. 1 WR. That’ll be Revis’ job. That he needed help over the top as a rookie isn’t a sin. I think he has the smarts and ability to learn, like Ty Law, how to compensate for lack of elite speed.
JAGG, I think Ratliff showed that he has a better arm than just throwing high arcing bombs. But, I agree that a short second-rounder that failed as a starter, a UDFA from Utah, and a 5th round tall stiff with an average arm don’t instill confidence. That’s why I’d like the Jets to draft Freeman and sign a stopgap vet.
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Although losing great talent at the same time the Jets gain more breathing room in terms of signing FA’s and cutting deals with their draftees plus no one has to worry much about being over the cap now…
Kellen Clemens as I mentioned previously is in the doghouse right now, Ainge is untested and unsafe and finally Ratliff is the fan favorite but then again now it seems that the Jets might take Mark Sanchez in the draft.
Favre’s retirement put a kink into Ryan’s fast paced cleanup of the old regime but it also gives him a chance to bring in someone who he thinks will be that playmaker the Jets need. So much for finding Darrelle Revis an “Interception Buddy.”
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Mel31602 says:
Anyone else find the top of nyjets.com really funny? It says “Thank You” to Brett and wishes him well in retirement. Thank you for what exactly? For ruining our season down the stretch? For giving us hope and then taking it away with a disastrous last month?
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Mel- Ha I think the original banner of “don’t let the door hit you on the way out” was decided to be a bad business move considering they need to unload all that merchandise.
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JAGG- True though I still couldn’t help laughing out loud when I saw that
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Nick says:
When you have a QB competition you have a problem at QB. I’m all for competition at every spot on the foster, EXCEPT at the QB. They need to decide who the guy is after mini camp and go with him.
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Sack,
I just don’t agree that we saw enough of KC (it was 8 games behind a swiss cheese oline) to know that he can’t cut it and/or saw enough of Ratty to give him the reigns. Let them battle it out and if ratliff looks better, the job will be his. Also, not sure that KC was “Mangini’s pick” – Tannenbaum was GM and still is, how do you know he wasn’t also Tanny’s pick? I say let the best man win and don’t prejudge based on half a lost season 2 years ago and a few preseason games last year.
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James in TN says:
Anybody but Ainge, need I say more. KC or Ratliff should be given a legitimate shot. However our next starting QB will be Jeff Garcia and that’s not so bad. I can’t wait to upgrade our WR’s. Coles is a liability. Baker is Coles lite. Get rid of both. We are on the right track. It seems the FO really really wants to win which is refreshing.
Go JETS -
Here’s a thought: why did favre ask to be released if he really wanted to retire? Clearly, the Jets had a reason not to release him – the compensation draft pick if he retires. So if he retires, then un-retires and signs with someone else in 4 months, do the Jets still get that pick? Imagine if he un-retires and goes to the Vikes and the Pack still have to give the Jets that pick!
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NYC Parking,
Maybe KC was Tanny’s pick and it was a mistake. Look, I would never have drafted KC, he doesn’t fit my criteria for a top prospect. Plus, in his 8 games as a starter, he stunk. So, he may have excuses, but like I said, I watched his games closely, and he just doesn’t have “it.” I could be wrong, I just don’t think so. If he had a great track record in college like other short QBs (like Drew Brees), maybe I’d be willing to cut him a break. But, he is in that “bust” danger zone of only having one really good year in college and got injured in that year. Look, I like Ratliff and the Jets need a veteran back up, but if KC is the starter, I’ll be counting the days until he’s benched because it will happen. He’s just not any good, as he showed on the field of play.
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JADDEN HOPKINS says:
CAN WE PLESE STOP BLAMMING THE O-LINE FOR KELLEN CLEMENS.PITTS HAD ONE OF THE MOST HORRID O-LINE I HAVE EVER SEEN AND GIG BEN FOUND AWAY TO COMPLETE PASS AFTER PASS AND WIN A SUPERBOWL.IF WE HAVE TO BLAME SOMETHING BLAME KELLEN INABILTY TO SCRAMBLE OUT OF THE POCKET AND MAKE PLAYS
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The anti-Clemens folks on this thread may be correct BUT to draw ironclad conclusions about this kid off of 7 games with that atrocious OL is simply emotionalism i.e the mind is made up and all other ‘facts’ will fit the concluded paradigm. If I remember correctly back in 02 Chad was mediocre in practice and pre-season and was going to be a bust when Vinny wasn’t working out. Typical NY fans. Certainly draft a future QB if you are uncertain, but give Clemens a shot. He is probably too short to be the long-term answer, but his body of work is extremely muted and with too many caveats to be conclusive.
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your gonna be missed bret but this had to even in order forthe jets to move on with their offseason plans, but i wil say this he has retired as the greatest qb this league has ever seen.
I sure wish people could agree on the cap figures so we would have a better idea what type of player the team can be in FA.